Saint Mary's beacon., 1887-01-06

state, | hastily gave my instructions
to Vesrapen and the cook while my
mind remained clear. Idirected them
to hold me by my arms. one on either
side, to keep me walking about, and
on no account to suffer me to lie down
or to 60 to sleep. explained to
Veerspen than my life depended on
my being kept awake. and | ordered
him to check the fatal drowsiness by
thrashing me with my own horse-whip
if necessary, and not to spare it.
Veerapen armed hims,lf with the
whip as ordered, and he and the
co9k began marching me-up aed tuwn
the room. An overwhelming faint
ness soon came upon me, from which
a further dose of brandy failed 10
rouse me, and ! should have gone to
sleep as | walked had not Vesrapen
then administered sharp cut across
my calves.
The pain stung me into activity,
and | turned upon my servant with
an amount of fury which caused him
10 retreat in hot haste. But remem-
bering why the blow was given, l
thanked him for it, curbing my pas
sion aad telling him to resume his
cure of me. | begged him, no matter
what my present anger might he. to
continue, by the severe means | had
placed in his hands, to prevent my
falling asleep, as ! would handsomely
reward him ii he saved my life.
cannot. rccollect all that passed
but Ne,rapen told me that | alternat-
ly commanded and entrested, with
tears in my eyes, to be allowed to 90
to sleep, if only for minute, but that
the only attention he paid to my en-
treaties was to lay on all the harder
with the whip.
The blows reused ue from state
Of torpor for few minutes only at
time, but during these intervals of
consciousness thoroughly relish the
cure | Was voluntarily undergoing
and experienced a positive pleasure
in feeling the stinging cuts showsred
on my back, arms and legs by the
lusty attendant
The struggle for life was protracted,
but gradually the pulsations of my
heart became more regular, the load
which had oppressed my breathing
was slowly lifted from my chest, the
fatal yearning for sleep rolled away
and knew the mortal risk was over.
Perhaps Neerapen had few old
scores to pay of-anyhow he dis
charged his duty so thoroughly that
by the time | was out of danger |
was black and blue from head to foot,
but bore him no grudge for these
striking marks OF his fidelity.
know | consumed a great deal Of
brandy, but | did not think | had
finished as much as six bottles. NeerA-
pen, however, assured me | had not
only taken that quantity, but had
wished to have more, only he had re-.
fused to let me have it. He produced
half dozen gentlemen. commoners"
as vouchers TO his assertion, and If he
and the cook had not grossly exceeded
the limits of sobtiety that night |
might have been persuaded that |
alone had swallowed full gallon I'M
perial measure of old cognac As it
was, formed an opinion that my
worthy servitors had been drinking
my very good health and speedy re-
covery, and | did not reproye them
for the jollification on such an occa-
sion.
gave my faithful boy IL months
pay and TO the cook Elk as a reward
for their timely services. | do not
think anything could induce me to
part with Neerapen. or Eeerspen to
leave me AS long as | remain ~ the
country, and shall give him a pen.
sion for life when | finally retire from
India.
The effects Of the psison did not al
together disappear for some time
but manifested themselves at iutervali
in muscular spasms, which were very
>ainlul and accompanied by great de-
ION OF spirits. Time, however
nres, hing. and | am to day A.
cures ali "a A@o -
sound a. thou. -, nv lie ,u,..
within an ace of los.
the bite Of tie polonga.